The Last Thing to Do with an Almost-Empty Bottle of Baby Powder Before You Recycle It

A friend of mine sent me a quote the other day about being a “middle mom.” If you don’t know, a middle mom refers to a mother who is past the blur of babyhood days but not so far along that she doesn’t still get the occasional cuddle on the couch or hand-holding on the way into the grocery store. 

Being a middle mom means you’ve probably gotten rid of all of your baby gear, like the cute bassinet and the swing, but you might still have the stroller for theme park days and baby food jars saved for crafts.

Which brings me to sweet-smelling baby powder, another poignant reminder from the past. You might have a little left over from diapering days, or maybe you use it during the summer to dust off sandy feet. Whatever the reason for having a bottle on hand, there is one surprising use for baby powder that will help you in your kitchen. 

Here it is — baby powder can be used to help slip on your sticky dish gloves! You know the drill: Your hands are already a bit wet from wiping down the counters. But now it’s time to do some heavy-duty dishwashing with super-hot water and trusty Bar Keepers Friend. You reach for your rubber gloves, but you have to wrestle to get them on.

Let’s just say that the whole ordeal isn’t fun. And it isn’t the best beginning to a kitchen scrubbing session. 

Instead of fighting with your gloves, sprinkle talc-free baby powder on your hands or inside your gloves. The powder will absorb the moisture on your hands, making it a whole lot easier to put your gloves on.

You’ll be able to slip them on just like you’re supposed to, and save all of your energy for the real work at hand. 

How do you deal with sticky dish gloves? Do you have a trick for getting them on? Tell us your process in the comments below.